Cable machine



May 18, 1954 Filed April 9, 1955 A. L.. MEYERS ET AL CABLE MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N. SIN ER May 18, 1954 A. MEYERS ETAL CABLE MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1953 I VENT K AL. MEYERS N. SINGER y 1954 A. L. MEYERS ETAL 2,678,527

CABLE MACHINE Filed April 9, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet s A. L. NEYEAS N. SINGER gamma y 1954 A. L. MEYERS ET AL 2,678,527

CABLE MACHINE- Filed ANAL 9, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 N Saves/z May 1 1954 A, L. MEYERS ETAL 2,673,527

CABLE MACHINE Filed April 9, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 18,1954

CABLE MACHINE Arthur Lennox Meyers, Herne Hill, London, and Nathaniel Singer, Springfield, Clapton, London,

England Application April 9, 1953, Serial No. 347,636

Claims priority, application Great Britain February 28, 1949 13 Claims.

This invention relates to a cable manufacturing machine. More particularly it is concerned with that class of machinery known as a quadding machine for laying up strands into a cable having balanced quads. This application is a continuation-in-part of our original application Serial No. 146,722, filed February 28, 1952, now abandoned. I

It is well known that, in a manufactured length of quad, systematic coupling may occur between the side circuits formed by opposite pairs of strands, as a result for example of capacity unbalance in the quad. It is also known that such. systematic coupling may be eliminated wholly or partly by cross-connection of the strands midway along the length of the quad, thus changing the relative positions of the pairs. In order to achieve this in the past, it has been necessary to cut the quad halfway and re-connect the strands so that strand A of the first half is joined to strand B of the second half and vice versa. In this way systematic coupling in the first half is partly or wholly compensated by that in the second half. a

Such cutting and rejointing is naturally a tedious and costly matter and the object of the present invention is to providea machine which enables crossing of the strands to be effected during the laying-up process without necessitating such cutting and rejointing.

In the standard type of cable quadding machine, the lengths of strand are carried on four bobbins non-rotatably or rotatably mounted on a carriage which is itself rotatable on a vertical spindle. The strands are drawn from the bobbins through apertures in a bearing assembly, by which the carriage spindle is supported in the frame of the machine, and thence through dies in a rotating lay plate where the strands are laid in position to form a quad.

It is obvious that the interference of this journal bearing and lay plate prevent the relative positions of the strands in the quad from being changed over once quadding has commenced.

According to the present invention, in a cable machine for laying up strands to forma composite cable and having a carriage supporting bobbins from which strands are drawn ofi to belaid as required, the strands in passing to the lay plate are releasably held in a cage so that the angular position of any two strands may be varied.

As described in the said original application Serial No. 146,722, in carrying out the invention the cage may comprise inner and outer elements,

which are normally locked to rotate as a unit but can be disconnected to permit of angular adjustment one in relation to the other, one of the cages having locations for the respective strands so as to function normally as a guide, the other element being provided with recesses, into which selected strands to be changed from one location to another can be transferred. When, therefore, it is desired to interchange the positions of the pairs of strands in a quadded cable, the elements are released and one pair of strands is transferred to the recesses in the other element, whereupon the elements are moved round to effect the necessary transfer.

For this purpose the journal bearing for the carriage spindle is preferably made in two parts, namely an outer portion rotatably mounted in the machine frame and an inner portion releasably locked to the outer portion and in which is the bearing supporting the carriage spindle.

The inner portion may consist of a spider having four radial arms spaced at to one another, each arm having a cylindrical surface so that it fits within an outer annulus constituting the outer portion. Spaced lugs or ribs on the surface edges of the arms engage circumferential grooves in the inner face of the annulus, to which it is normally locked by pins passing through holes in the annulus and in the lugs.

In the annulus or outer portion are radial slots, into which two of the strands passing through the bearing can be temporarily transferred. The

outer portion is then rotated through relative to the inner portion carrying these two strands with it. In this way the relative position of the two opposite pairs of strands is reversed.

In addition to effecting a change in the position of the strands as they pass through the carriage journal hearing, it is necessary to effect a corresponding change in the positions of the strands in the lay plate.

The machine disclosed in the said original application has the possible disadvantage that when two strands are transposed they ass over the untransposed strands and rub against them. Therefore in the present application an additional construction is disclosed in which. guide pulleys are so positioned that the transposed strands are held away from the untransposed strands.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic view of a quadding machine constructed in accordance with the invention to permit of adjusting the relative positions of the strands in the quad. Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a plan view and part transverse section of a cage device forming part of the quadding machine and in which the strands are adjustably held. Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the jockey or transfer pulleys for guiding the respective strands in passing from the cage to the lay plate. Figure 5 is a plan view on an enlarged scale, showing the transfer pulleys and their mounting spider. Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a plan view and section of a lay plate. Figure 8 is a plan View of guide pulleys and their mounting ring. Figure 9 is a perspective view of a quadding machine in which the guide pulleys are mounted at a greater distance from the spindle than in the machine shown in Figures 1 and 4. Figures 1 to 8 inclusive were included in the said original application; Figure 9 has been added in the present application.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, A indicates generally a base plate having a vertical spindle B. Mounted to rotate about vertical axes on the plate A are saddle frames D of which there are four, each saddle frame D carrying a bobbin E, which is freely mounted so as to permit of the strand wound thereon to be drawn off as required and laid up into a cable.

From the bobbins E the four strands pass up through dies at the tops of the saddles D through a cage indicated generally at F which forms the upper bearing of the spindle B. From cage F the strands pass to a lay plate H at the upper end of the spindle and then through a die Ivi where the four strands are laid in position to form a composite cable.

In the quadding machine of this invention, the cage F is so constructed and arranged as to permit of the relative positions of two of the strands, indicated generally at X, to be interchanged. For this purpose, the cage comprises inner and outer elements I and 2 normally locked to rotate as a unit by means of lock screws 3. The inner element I consists of a spider having four radial arms 6 corresponding to the number of strands and extending from a central collar 5 which is keyed to the spindle B. The outer ends 6 of the arms i are formed with cylindrical surfaces so as to be capable of riding in annular grooves l in the outer element 2 of the cage. The element 2 in turn is rotatably held in a ring R fixed to the machine frame.

It will be noted that the outer element 2 is formed with four radial entrant slots 8, extending from the under face into the grooves i, and which slots enable the spiders to be inserted by bein pushed upwardly into the grooves. Having been inserted, the inner element is given a slight twist and the fixing screws 3 are passed through the outer element 2 and the arms 4 to clamp the elements together as shown in Figure 3. The arms 4 provide between them four locations for the respective strands.

Normally, the fixing screws 3 are tight, and the parts I and 2 are locked together and rotate as a unit with spindle B. When it is desired to interchange positions of the pairs of strands in the cable, the screws are removed to free the outer element 2. The two opposite strands to be interchanged are then moved into radial recesses, indicated at 9 in the outer element 2, which recesses, hereinafter referred to either as recesses or positions, extend beyond the perimeter'of the inner element I, so that by means of tommy bars inserted in holes 2 of the flange 2 of annulus 2 the latter can be rotated through 180,

thus transposing the strands in the positions 9.

This transposition of strands alters their path from the bobbin saddles to the cage F and to accommodate this change of path the transposed strands are passed over guide pulleys It and thence round jockey pulleys I I which are adjustably located so as to ensure that the strands enter the apertures between the arms 5 of the cage at substantially their original angle, so that there is no tendency to alter the lay of the strands.

The pulleys Iii, of which there are two (see Figure 8) are journalled in brackets I2 fast on a collar I3 which is secured to the spindle B by set screws I4.

The pulleys I I of which there are two, only one being shown in Figure 5, are carried on offset arms I5 adjustably secured in sockets Iii. The sockets I6 themselves are fast with brackets i! slidably mounted on spider arms I8 carried by a two-piece collar I9 clamped to the spindle B. Each bracket IT is provided with set screw adjustment 2e, so that its radial position on the shaft I8 can be adjusted as may be required to give the correct angle of approach of the strands to the lay plate H.

It will be observed that the bracket arms I5 terminate in swivel studs I5, which are rotatably held in the sockets it by lock nuts I6, so that the arms I5 carrying the jockey pulleys II are universally mounted in relation to the spindle B.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, instead of the normal lay plate having four apertures equally spaced apart on a circle concentric with the centre of the disc to receive standard pressin dies, through which the strands are threaded, provision is made in the machine of this invention to interchange the opposite dies of one pair in conformity with the change-over at the cage F. For this purpose the lay plate H which comprises a disc 25 fast with a; centre piece 26 in which is a central bore 21 to fit the upper end of the spindle B, is provided with two diametrically opposite slots 21 giving access to two of the die receiving apertures 28. The two apertures 28 are fitted with interchangeable dies 29 which are provided with enlarged flanges 39 formed with edge flats SI to enable the die which screw into position to be disengaged from the disc. Thus on unscrewing the dies 29 from the holes 28, each of the two strands threaded through these particular dies can be interchanged with its opposite number and thus its angular position varied by The quadding machine shown in Figure 9 is similar to the machine shown in Figure 1, having a base plate A, a spindle B, four saddle frames D carrying bobbins E, and a cage F. The cage 1"" has an inner element I having four radial arms 4, and an outer element 2 rotatably held in a ring R. The elements I and 2 are normally locked together by screws 3, and slots 8 are provided in the element 2 to permit the elements to be assembled. Four jockey pulleys ii are carried on arms I8 extending from a collar I9 which is clamped to the spindle B below the cage F. A pair of guide pulleys ID are mounted on arms 32 extending radially from a collar i3 which is secured to the spindle B below the collar I9.

Strands X, which are to be laid up into a cable are shown in the positions which they occupy after two of the strands have been transposed, the transposition having been effected in the manner described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. The transposed strands X pass from their bobbins E over the pulleys I0 and over a pair of the pulleys H, and thence through the cage F to a lay plate (not shown). The untransposed strands X" pass from their bobbins E through hooks 33 in the arms 32, and thence over the otherpair of pulleys I I and the cage F to the lay plate. It will beseen that the guide pulleys I hold the transposed strands away from theuntransposed strands so that the strands do not come into contact with one another. The jockey pulleys H areadjustable in position and attitude so that the strands approach the lay plate from the proper angles.

What we claim as our invention is;

1. In a machine for laying up cable strands and the like .to form a composite cable, a cage comprising two releasably locked together elements, one of the elements having locations for the strands, and the other element having positions to which strands which are to be transposed are movable, the elements being relatively movable when released to transpose the said strands when positioned in the said other element.

2. In a machine for laying up cable strands and the like and having a spindle, a cage comprising an inner element secured to the spindle and an outer element releasably locked to the inner element, one of the elements having locations for the strands, and the other element having positions to which strands which are to be transposed are movable, the outer element being relatively movable with respect to the inner element when released to transpose the said strands when positioned in the said other element.

3. In a machine for laying up cable strands and the like and having a spindle, a cage comprising an inner element secured to the spindle and an outer annular element releasably looked to the inner element, the inner element having locations for the strands, and the outer element having positions into which strands which are to be transposed are movable, the outer element being rotatable with respect to the inner element when released to transpose the said strands when positioned in the outer element.

4. In a machine for laying up cable strands and the like and having a spindle, a cage comprising an inner element secured to the spindle and having spider arms to locate the strands between them and an outer element releasably locked to the inner element, the outer element having recesses into which strands are to be transposed are movable from their locations between spider arms, and the outer element being rotatable with respect to the inner element when released to move the said strands to locations between other spider arms.

5. In a machine for laying up cable strands and the like and having a spindle and frame, a cage comprising an inner element secured to the spindle and having spider arms to locate the strands between them and an outer annular element having a groove into which the spider arms project, the outer element being releasably locked to the spider arms and being journalled in the machine frame, the outer element having recesses into which strands which are to be transposed are movable from their locations between spider arms, and the outer element being rotatable with respect to the inner element when released to move the said strands to locations between other arms of the spider.

6. A machine for laying up cable strands and the like as they are drawn off bobbins to form a composite cable, comprising a carriage on which the bobbins are mounted, a cage and a lay plate through which'the strands are drawn, the cage comprising two releasably locked together elements, one of the elements having locations for the strands, and the other element having positions to which strands which are to be transposed are movable, the element being relatively movable when released to transpose the said strands when positioned in the said other element, and means on the lay plate for transposing the strands.

'7. A machine for laying up cable strands and the like as they are drawn off bobbins to form a composite cable, comprising a spindle, a carriage on which the bobbins are mounted, a cage and a lay plate through which the strands are drawn, the carriage, cage and lay plate being rotatably mounted on the spindle, the cage comprising two releasably locked together elements which are relatively movable when released to transpose the strands, and means on the lay plate for transposing the strands.

8. A machine for laying up cable strands and the like as they are drawn off bobbins to form a composite cable, comprising a spindle, a carriage on which the bobbins are mounted, a cage and a lay plate through which the strands are drawn, the carriage, cage and lay plate being rotatably mounted on the spindle, the cage comprising two releasably locked together elements which are relatively movable when released, and the lay plate having guides for the strands, at least two of the guides being open at one side to permit the strands to be withdrawn from the said guides and transposed.

9. A machine for laying up cable strands and the like as they are drawn on bobbins to form a composite cable, comprising a spindle, a carriage on which the bobbins are mounted, a cage and a lay plate through which the strands are drawn, the carriage, cage and lay plate being rotatably mounted on the spindle, the cage comprising two releasably locked together elements which are relatively movable when released, and. the lay plate comprising a disc having apertures, dies in the apertures through which the strands pass, and slots between the periphery of the disc and at least two of the apertures, the strands and dies being removable from the said apertures for transpositon.

10. A machine for laying up cable strands and the like as they are drawn ofi bobbins to form a composite cable, comprising a spindle, a carriage on which the bobbins are mounted, a cage and a lay plate through which the strands are drawn, the carriage, cage and lay plate being rotatably mounted on the spindle, and means on the lay plate for transposing the strands, the cage comprising an inner element secured to the spindle and an outer element releasably locked to the inner element, one of the elements having locations for the strands, and the other element having positions to which strands which are to be transposed are movable, the outer element being relatively movable with respect to the inner element when released to transpose the said strands when positioned in the said other element.

11. A machine for laying up cable strands and the like as they are drawn off bobbins to form a composite cable, comp-rising a spindle, a carriage on which the bobbins are mounted, a cage and a lay plate through which the strands are drawn, the carriage, cage and lay plate being rotatably mounted on the spindle, and means on the lay plate for transposing the strands, the

cage comprising an inner element secured to the spindle and an outer annular element releasably locked to the inner element, the inner element having locations for the strands, and the outer element having positions into which strands which are to be transposed are movable, the outer element being rotatable with respect to the inner element when released to transpose the said strands when positioned in the outer element.

12. A machine for laying up cable strands and the like as they are drawn off bobbins to form a composite cable, comprising a machine frame, a spindle, a carriage on which the bobbins are mounted, a cage and a lay plate through which the strands are drawn, and means on the lay plate for transposing the strands, the carriage, cage and lay plate being rotatably mounted on the spindle, the cage being located between the carriage and the lay plate and comprising an inner element secured to the spindle and having spider arms to locate the strands between them and an outer annular element having a groove into which the spider arms project, the outer element being releasably locked to the spider arms and being journalled in the machine frame, the outer element having recesses into which strands which are to be transposed are movable from their locations between spider arms,

and the outer element being rotatable with respect to the inner element when released to move the said strands to locations between other arms of the spider.

13. A machine for laying up cable strands and the like'as they are drawn off bobbins to form a composite cable, comprising a spindle, a carriage on which the bobbins are mounted, 'a cage and a lay plate through which the strands are drawn, the carriage, cage and lay plate being rotatably mounted on the spindle, means on the cage and the lay plate for transposing the strands, and pulleys located between the bobbins and the cage for guiding the strands.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,579,769 Jones Apr. 6, 1926 1,988,586 Deacon Jan. 22, 1935 2,412,196 Ashbaugh Dec. 10, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 125,462 Austria Nov. 25, 1931 309,494 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1929 356,376 Great Britain Sept. 10, 1931 

